Power-operated hairbrush cleaning device



Sept. 8, 1964 v E R. SCHULZ ETAL POWER-OPERATED HAIRBRUSH CLEANINGDEVICE Ewe/ R. Schulz Loyd L. Sasser, Sr.

Filed July 18, 1963 United States Patent 3,147,501 POWER-OPERATEDHAIRBRUSH CLEANING DEVICE Ewel R. Schulz, 200 N. 2nd St. E., Hubbard,Tex., and Loyd L. Sasser, Sr., Rte. 1, Orvilla Road, Red Oak, Tex. FiledJuly 18, 1963, Ser. No. 295,966 Claims. ((11. 15 -38) The presentinvention relates to a portable power-operated device embodying meanswhich is expressly constructed and adapted to enable the user thereof todislodge and remove matted hairs, dandruff and extraneous matter whichhas accumulated on or between the bristles on a hairbrush and toaccomplish the desired result in such a manner that the then cleanedhairbrush, having been restored to the desired state of cleanliness, isagain ready for use.

In carrying out a practical embodiment of the inventive concept areciprocating rockably mounted comb takes the place of the manually usedcomb (which is ordinarily employed for brush-cleaning purposes) servesthe purposes desired and enables the user of the device to apply thebristles of the hairbrush to the activated fingers or teeth of the combin a manner to so condition the brush that, after it has been thuscleaned, it is thus restored to normalcy.

Briefly, a significant aspect of the devlce has to do with apower-operated comb-like bristle cleaner. This part.

of the device is characterized by straight rod-like tines or fingerswhich are carried by an assembling and backing member, said member beingmounted for oscillation on an eccentric shaft, said shaft being joinedto power-driven link-like heads which, operating in conjunction with theother parts, provide a novel crank motion.

More particularly novelty is predicated on a box-like base provided withan electric motor driven gearing which in turn operates the crank motionmeans, said means having the comb-like cleaning device or unit connectedtherewith and the aforementioned tines or fingers operating throughholes provided therefor in a brush bristle basing plate.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a hairbrush accommodating bristleand brush-cleaning device constructed in accordance with the inventionwith the cleaning fingers or tines assuming what may be designated asthe normal ready-to-function position;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the plane of the section line 22, of FIGURE 1,the view being on an enlarged scale and parts appearing in both sectionand elevation, the hairbrush being shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view with parts in section and elevation takenon the vertical section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and the purpose of which is toillustrate the crank motion means and the manner in which it functionsto project and retract and angularly work the tines or fingers first tothe right and then to the left in order to effectively clean thebristles;

FIGURE 5 is a view also similar to FIG. 4 and is taken approximately onthe section line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan View detailing a group of thefinger-accommodating holes.

In the drawing the hairbrush which is to be acted on, cleaned andrestored to its desirably usable state is denoted by the referencecharacter A, the same including a handle-equipped backing or head B andordinary or conventional-type bristles C.

The portable device which supports the hairbrush and permits itsbristles to be combed and cleaned is denoted generally by the numeral 8.This device comprises a hollow box-like base having a horizontal bottomwall 10 (FIG. 2), side walls 12 and transverse end walls 14 and 16.There is a top wall 18 secured in place by screws or equivalentfasteners 20. The top wall is provided adjacent one end and preferablyat a median portion thereof with a slot or opening 22 which serves apurpose to be later described. On the interior of the box or base anappropriate electric motor 24 is suspended. This motor may be hung fromthe bottom of the top wall and the shaft thereof serves to drive apinion 26 mounted in an appropriate protective gear box or housing 28and meshing with a speed-reducing gear 3b which operates a motiontransmitting stub shaft 32. This shaft is axially fixed to and serves todrive a motion-transmitting link 34 of the shape and size illustrated inFIGS. 3, 4 and 5. This link is opposed to a complemental link 36 havinga fixed crankshaft 38 which is turnable in a bushing 40 mounted in theend wall 16. These links are provided off-center with a connecting rod42 which spans the space between the links. It follows that thisarrangement, the motor, gearing, links and rod provide a satisfactoryenclosed crank motion or means which, in turn, functions to transmit itsmotion to the bristle cleaning comb means denoted generally by thenumeral 44. The comb comprises a plurality of rods or straight tineswhich have their inner ends 46 fixed to a U-shaped comb back 48, thelateral end portions of the latter as at 50 being journaled for angularturning movement on the crankshaft 42. The median portions of thefingers extend through individual guide holes 52 (FIG. 6) providetherefor in a finger stabilizing and control plate 54 which is screwedor otherwise fastened as at 56 atop the wall 18 and over and inalignment with the aforementioned opening or slot 22. The outer free endportions of the fingers or tines are denoted at 58. It should be furthernoted in connection with the holes 52 that each hole is of a size ordiameter greater than the cross-section of the finger which operatestherethrough. In addition, the top and bottom marginal surfaces of eachhole are beveled inwardly and downwardly as denoted at 60 with theresult that the bevels define a sharp endless edge which in turnconstitutes fulcruming means for the median portion of each finger inthe manner shown in FIG. 4 in particular.

It follows that when the motor is set into motion by tripping the switchmeans D the crank means comes into play and projects and retracts androcks the cleaning comb 44. More specifically as the cooperating cranklinks rotate in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 3the crankshaft turns in the orbital path designated with the result thatduring each cycle of rotation the tines or fingers are shoved in and outin relation to the holes 52 and are rocked back an forth on thefulcruming edges which circumscribe the holes or openings 52. Byconsidering the illustration of the steps designated in FIGS. 3, 4 and5, respectively, and taking these views into consideration inconjunction with the rest of the views a clear understanding of theconstruction and mode of operation will be had. Therefore, a moreextended description is regarded as unnecessary.

Briefly, in using the device the bristles of the brush are placed atopthe plate means 54 so that the brush can be maneuvered in keeping withtrial and error needs. After the device has been used a number of timesand experi ence is thus gained, theuser becomes sufiiciently adept atmoving the brush and bristles in such a manner in relation to thepowered cleaning fingers that quick and effective results are assured.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be restorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A bristle brush cleaning device comprising a portable planar supportsurface upon which the bristled brush can be placed and held by hand,said support surface having a single row of aligned finger positioningand guiding orifices, projectible and retractible bristle raking andcleaning fingers having upper, lower and median portions, said upperportions being free, projecting to positions constantly above the planeof said support surface, the median portions of said fingers havingsliding and shifting movement in and relative to said orifices, poweredcrank motion means operatively mounted beneath and below the plane ofsaid support surface, the lower ends of said fingers being movablyconnected to and reciprocated by said means, each orifice being of adiameter slightly greater than the cross-section of the finger which isreciprocable therethrough, the top and bottom marginal edges whichencircle each orifice being beveled, the bevels converging and definingand providing an endless knife-like fulcrurning edge on and againstwhich the cooperating finger is both slidingly and tiltingly fulcrumed.

2. A bristle brush device comprising: a hollow box-like portable baseprovided with a top having opening means, a plate marginally affixed tosaid top and spanning said opening means and having a fiat top surfaceand being centrally provided with a row of holes, the marginal edges ofsaid holes having upper and lower beveled marginal portions convergingand defining fulcruming edges, poweroperated crank motion means mountedfor operation in said base and including a pair of opposed complementallinks having portions thereof connected together by an in terveningcrankshaft, a comb unit comprising a backing member parallel to andcommensurate in length with said crankshaft and having lateral endportions apertured and rockably mounted on corresponding end portions ofsaid crankshaft, and further including a plurality of in-line tines,said tines being connected at their lower ends with said backing member,having median portions projected and retracted as they areintermittently slid up and down through their respective aligned holesand having upper free end portions which are oscillated back and forthand accordingly raked between the brush bristles in a manner to cleansaid bristles.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 and wherein the power operatedcrank-motion means comprises an electric motor supported and confined inthe hollow portion of said box-like base, said motor having a powerdelivery shaft, said delivery shaft having gearing operatively connectedtherewith, said gearing serving to transmit motion at the desired speedand one of the gears being joined by a motion-transmitting shaft to anadjacent one of said links.

4. A portable device for supporting and cleaning the bristles of ahairbrush, said device comprising a basesupported planar plate having arow of closely spaced holes therein, each hole having coacting marginaledge portions which are beveled, said beveled portions cooperating indefining a knifelike edge constituting fulcrurning means, a pair ofopposed crank links having axially aligned journaling and supportingmeans, base means therefor, a crankshaft interconnecting correspondingend portions of said links, a U-shaped member having a bight portionparalleling the crankshaft and having lateral end portions which areapertured and mounted for oscillation on end portions of saidcrankshaft, and a row of tines, said tines providing bristle raking andcleaning fin ers, the lower ends of the tines being fixedly anchored onsaid bight portion, median portions of said tines operating slidingly intheir respectively aligned holes and being tiltably engageable with saidfulcruming means, said base means comprising a hollow. box provided withaxially aligned bearings, the journaling means of said crank links beingjournaled for operation in the coacting bearing means, an electric motormounted in the hollow portion of said box and motion-transmitting meansalso mounted in said box and operatively connected with the motor and anadjacent one of the aforementioned crank links.

5. A device for raking and cleaning the bristles of a hair brushcomprising a portable base having a fixed planar plate atop which thebristled brush can be placed and held by a hand of the user of saiddevice, said plate having a single row of relatively small holes, thetop and bottom surfaces of the marginal edges of each hole being beveledand said bevels converging to provide a knife-like guiding andfulcruming orifice, a crankshaft located in said base beneath said plateand having axially aligned journals mounted for rotation in bearingsprovided therefor in said base, an electric motor supported in said basein a plane beneath the plane of said plate and having operatingconnection with an adjacent cooperating end of said crankshaft, theshaft part of said crankshaft being turnable through an orbital path, aportion of which is proximal to the relatively fixed position of saidplate, a U-shaped member interposed between said plate and shaft andhaving a bight portion, said bight portion being commensurate in lengthwith the length of said shaft and having laterally directed endportions, said end portions being hingedly connected to the adjacentrespective end portions of said. shaft, said bight portion being adaptedto oscillate to and fro in a plane below the plane of said plate, aplurality of tines, said tines constituting raking and cleaning fingersand having lower end portions connected to the bight portion of saidU-shaped member, having median portions slidingly guided through saidorifices and tiltingly cooperable with the respectively cooperatingfulcruming marginal edges thereof, the upper ends of said. fingers beingfree and constantly operating in a plane above the plane of said plate.1

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,302,247 Troy Apr. 29, 1919 1,356,637 Kucab Oct. 26, 1920 1,764,626Heckman June 17, 1930 2,649,599 Leadingham Aug. 25, 1953 3,072,939Rehberg Jan. 15, 1963

1. A BRISTLE BRUSH CLEANING DEVICE COMPRISING A PORTABLE PLANAR SUPPORTSURFACE UPON WHICH THE BRISTLED BRUSH CAN BE PLACED AND HELD BY HAND,SAID SUPPORT SURFACE HAVING A SINGLE ROW OF ALIGNED FINGER POSITIONINGAND GUIDING ORIFICES, PROJECTIBLE AND RETRACTIBLE BRISTLE RAKING ANDCLEANING FINGERS HAVING UPPER, LOWER AND MEDIAN PORTIONS, SAID UPPERPORTIONS BEING FREE, PROJECTING TO POSITIONS CONSTANTLY ABOVE THE PLANEOF SAID SUPPORT SURFACE, THE MEDIAN PORTIONS OF SAID FINGERS HAVINGSLIDING AND SHIFTING MOVEMENT IN AND RELATIVE TO SAID ORIFICES, POWEREDCRANK MOTION MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTED BENEATH AND BELOW THE PLANE OFSAID SUPPORT SURFACE, THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID FINGERS BEING MOVABLYCONNECTED TO AND RECIPROCATED BY SAID MEANS, EACH ORIFICE BEING OF ADIAMETER SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE CROSS-SECTION OF THE FINGER WHICH ISRECIPROCABLE THERETHROUGH, THE TOP AND BOTTOM MARGINAL EDGES WHICHENCIRCLE EACH ORIFICE BEING BEVELED, THE BEVELS CONVERGING AND DEFININGAND PROVIDING AN ENDLESS KNIFE-LIKE FULCRUMING EDGE ON AND AGAINST WHICHTHE COOPERATING FINGER IS BOTH SLIDINGLY AND TILTINGLY FULCRUMED.